Mountain View quarterback Connor Crum throws a pass during the Cougars' 46-7 win over Bend High on Friday night at Mountain View High.

For the past couple of years, Mountain View football has been a nail. This fall, the motto for the Cougars — and the phrase printed on their shirts — is, “Be the hammer.”

With a 46-7 win over rival Bend High Friday night in the final week of the season, Mountain View drove home the final metaphorical nail to finish the regular season undefeated and claim the Intermountain Conference title.

Not only did the varsity team go a perfect 9-0 on the season, but the freshman and junior varsity teams also went unbeaten in their nine-game seasons.

“There is impressive stuff there that this group has put together,” said Mountain View coach Brian Crum. “And it starts with the 22 seniors that we marched out before the game.”

With the win, the Cougars snapped a two-game losing streak to its long-time rival.

Senior quarterback Connor Crum has been on the other end of lopsided outcomes against the Bend Lava Bears, which won in 2021 49-3 then 40-14 last fall.

“I remember sitting in my locker crying after sophomore year,” Connor Crum said. “Throwing for 60 yards on like 40% competition and no touchdowns. To be able to come out and have a great night in my senior year is just pure joy.”

In his final regular season game, the senior quarterback threw for four touchdowns and returned an interception for a touchdown while playing defense.

The defense for the Cougars (9-0, 5-0 IMC) held the Lava Bears (4-5, 2-3) scoreless until less than two minutes left in the game. The majority of Bend’s 123 total yards came in the late stages of the game.

“I thought our defense was suffocating tonight,” Crum said. “Just an impressive defensive effort.”

Mountain View’s defense also set a school record with the fewest points (40) given up in a regular season.

“Almost having everyone return has helped out a lot,” said senior defensive lineman Jackson Hersch. “The defensive line is doing their jobs up front, the linebackers are filling their gaps hard and the DBs are covering the pass. Now we are going to try and give up the fewest points in the regular season and playoffs.”

As dominant as the Cougar defense was, their offense was just as potent. Specifically, the Connor Crum-to-Jack Foley connection. Crum found the junior wideout Foley for not one, not two, not three, but four touchdowns in the win. Foley finished with 131 yards receiving and caught touchdowns of 8, 23, 14 and 63 yards.

“Maybe it is not the right read to throw to him,” Connor Crum said. “But I can always trust him to make a play. He makes our offense so much better.”

Crum, also a defensive back, returned an interception for a touchdown, and sophomore running back Angel Valenzuela scored on a 1-yard run.

Bend’s lone touchdown came on a 15-yard run by senior wideout Treyden Lucas.

The Cougars are the No. 3 seed in the Class 5A state playoffs and will host No. 14 Eagle Point Friday in a first-round game.

“We know that there is not a team that is going to be easy from this point on,” Brian Crum said. “Now we just have to go 1-0 four times.”

Summit 21, Caldera 7

Summit got a bounce-back win against a playoff-bound team in the final game of the regular season.

Senior quarterback Jimmy Hughes passed for one touchdown and ran for another touchdown in the win. Hughes connected with senior wideout Mac Bledsoe in the first half for a touchdown while senior running back Sam Stephens ran in for a short touchdown in the second half. Senior defensive end Braden Bailey had four sacks and junior defensive end Alex Nevarov had three sacks.

Caldera’s lone touchdown came in the first half on a touchdown catch from senior wideout Trace Benner.

Both teams are playoff bound and will play next Friday. No. 10 Caldera (6-3, 3-2 IMC) will travel to face No. 7 West Albany in the first round of the 5A playoffs while No. 5 Summit (5-4, 4-1) will host No. 12 Canby.

Redmond 21, Ridgeview 14 (OT)

The Hometown Showdown needed an overtime period to decide the winner.

Senior Ryker Altizer connected with sophomore wideout Wyatt Horner in overtime to give the Panthers the lead, then junior linebacker Wyatt Bigelow sealed the victory with an interception.

Senior running back Isaac Olmeda scored two rushing touchdowns for the Panthers (4-5, 2-3 IMC). The Ravens (1-8, 0-5) got a passing touchdown from junior quarterback Adam Millington to junior tight end Noah Zampko. Senior defensive back Kia Lewis returned a fumble on a kickoff 35 yards for a touchdown.

Crook County 56, Madras 6

Senior quarterback Jacob McKinnon ran for four touchdowns, junior running back Brandon Hayes added another touchdown on the ground and junior defensive back Cody Kurtz returned an interception for a touchdown in the blowout-win for Crook County.

The Cowboys (4-5, 3-2 SD5) will know their playoff matchup late Saturday night, while the White Buffalos (1-8, 0-5) have their season come to an end.

Sisters 20, Harrisburg 7

Sisters won the Mountain Valley Conference outright with a perfect conference record with a hard-fought win against Harrisburg.

Junior defensive back Dawson Roberson had two interceptions, one of them was returned 37-yard for a touchdown. Sophomore running back Ethan Eby had a eight-yard touchdown run and sophomore quarterback Hunter Bronson connected with junior wideout Landen Scott for a 23-yard touchdown. 

The Outlaws will find out who they will host in the first round of the playoffs Saturday night.

Creswell 43, La Pine 7

The Hawks (2-7, 2-4 MVC) had its season come to an end with a loss to Creswell on the road. Junior running back Tag De Luca scored the lone touchdown for La Pine on a two-yard run. 

Culver 50, Colton 14

The Bulldogs (3-6, 2-4 TRC) capped off their regular season with a resounding win on the road against Colton and put an end to its five-game losing streak.

Junior Houston Wittenburg passed four four touchdowns Juniors Ryan Sotelo and Carlos Fernandez each had two touchdowns, Sotelo a two-yard run and a 33-yard reception while Fernandez had a 44-yard touchdown catch and a one-yard touchdown run. Junior Roger Sotelo had a touchdown catch and Jace Silbernagel had touchdown catches in the win.